Chapter 46 Chapter 47
Luciano POV
After my brief conversation with Valerie, I had other matters to attend to, but my mind refused to leave her completely. It stayed on her longer than I expected, replaying every detail, every reaction, every word she tried to hide behind her pride. She could pretend all she wanted, but I saw through it.
Valerie wasn’t just trying to escape me, she was fighting something deeper, something she didn’t understand yet. And I knew exactly what it was. She was falling. slowly, and deeply in love with me, however she didn't want to accept it. The way her body reacted to my touch, the way her breath changed when I got close, the way her eyes betrayed her before her words could catch up, it all told me the same story.
She just wasn’t ready to admit it yet. But that didn’t matter. She would. I would make sure of it.
A faint smile rested on my lips as I stepped out of the mansion, the cool air brushing against my skin. I adjusted my jacket and headed toward my car, my thoughts already shifting into place. I had plans, carefully thought-out plans and once I set them in motion, there would be no turning back. Valerie would confess her feelings to me, whether she liked it or not. And when she did, everything else would fall into place perfectly. It would solve more than one problem at once. That alone made the situation almost amusing. I got into the car and drove off, my mind already moving to the next issue that demanded my attention.
Damian had called earlier. They had found a lead. Someone had been careless enough to leave a trail, and I wasn’t the kind of man who ignored opportunities like that. Whoever had the courage to interfere in my business had already made a mistake. Now it was my turn to respond. By the time I arrived at the warehouse, I could hear the sound before I even stepped out of the car. Screaming. Loudly for help It echoed through the building, bouncing off the walls like a warning. But to me, it was nothing more than confirmation that my men were doing exactly what they were supposed to do. I stepped out calmly and rolled up my sleeves as I walked inside.
The air was thick, heavy with fear and pain, but it didn’t affect me. It never did. This was part of the world I lived in. I moved through the hallway without hesitation, heading straight for one of the rooms designed for situations like this. No windows. No way out. Just controlled silence, except for the man who was dragged in moments later.
They threw him to the ground like he was nothing. His body barely held together, trembling under its own weight. Blood covered his face, dripping slowly down to the floor. His eyes were gone. Removed completely. And still, he was alive. Still breathing. Still aware enough to feel fear. I stared at him without emotion, my expression unchanged. One of my men stepped forward and handed me a small box.
I took it without a word, opening it slowly. The moment I saw what was inside, a deeper smile formed on my lips.
“Interesting,” I muttered under my breath.
Behind me, the man began to beg. His hands came together weakly, shaking as he struggled to speak.
“Please… I didn’t do it… I swear… please…” His voice cracked under the weight of fear, desperation pouring out of every word. I tilted my head slightly, watching him carefully. His fear didn’t move me. It never had. If anything, it made me want to rip out his heart.
“If you didn’t do it,” I said calmly, “then why were these found with you?” I tossed the photographs onto the ground in front of him. They scattered across the floor, but he couldn’t see them. That alone made it almost ironic. I paused for a moment, studying his face before letting out a soft sound. “Tsk… too bad you can’t see,” I added quietly. “But since you’re the one who took them, I’m sure you remember why.”
There was a brief silence before he broke completely. “Yes! I took them!” he cried out quickly, nodding his head in panic. “The Boneman family hired me! They told me I would get paid well! I didn’t know anything else, I swear! Please… please spare me…”
I didn’t respond immediately. I didn’t need to. That was all I needed to hear. Noah. Just as I expected. A slow breath left my lips as I turned slightly, my expression growing colder. He wasn’t useful anymore. Not after this. He had already given me what I wanted.
I glanced toward one of my men, my most reliable sniper, and gave a simple order.
“Kill him. Make it look like an accident.”
I didn’t wait for an answer. I already knew it would be done. As I turned to leave, the man’s screams followed me. Louder now. More desperate. He called out, begged, promised anything he could think of just to stay alive. But it didn’t matter. None of it did. His voice faded as I walked out, step by step, leaving the noise behind like it had never existed.
By the time I stepped outside, the silence felt natural again. I got into the car, my expression calm, my thoughts already moving ahead. Damian was waiting, watching me carefully before starting the engine.
“Where to next, boss?” he asked.
I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I leaned back slightly, letting the silence stretch as I thought everything through. Noah had made his move. That meant the game had changed. And if the game had changed, then I needed to stay ahead of it. I needed to control every angle, every move, every outcome.
A slow smile formed on my lips.“Take me to Leah,” I said finally.
Because if she wanted to be part of this
Then it was time I reminded her exactly where she stood, and make her feel the weight of my wrath.